Virat Kohli comments on Champions Trophy win

When you’ve been in those situations before and couldn’t cross the line, there’s always a desire to get another opportunity and overcome it. And that’s exactly what we did”: Kohli

Dubai: “After a tough tour of Australia, we came here and won a big tournament, which has once again boosted our confidence as a team. Throughout the tournament, different players stepped up in different matches,” Virat Kohli, one of the all-time greats, said after India won the ICC Champions Trophy here on Sunday.

Speaking to Star Sports after the match, Kohli said there were moments in past tournaments where they weren’t able to finish games or capitalise on crucial situations. “But this time, we learned from those experiences. That’s why you back experienced players—they have faced these moments before, and when you apply those learnings and work hard, you get a chance to turn things around,” he said.

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“The way KL (Rahul) finished in the last two matches is a testament to that experience. When you’ve been in those situations before and couldn’t cross the line, there’s always a desire to get another opportunity and overcome it. And that’s exactly what we did,” Kohli said.

“One thing we kept emphasising throughout the tournament was focusing on our skills—how good we are, not how good the opposition is. Despite all the challenges, this is why you play the game—for these big tournaments. Winning four ICC titles is truly a blessing, and I consider myself very lucky to have played for so long and achieved this,” he said.

Shreyas Iyer, who was named ‘player of the tournament’ said the winning feeling was “surreal”. “It’s really hard to put into words, but I’m incredibly grateful and thankful. It feels fresh from the inside because we’ve worked so hard throughout the year,” he said.

“There have been ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I feel proud that I backed myself in crucial situations. My self-belief has always been high, and now, standing here with this blazer and a medal, it’s the happiest moment,” Shreyas said.

“My 79-run knock against New Zealand, when we lost three wickets in the power-play, was personally very satisfying. Taking the team to 250 from that situation was a big achievement for me, even though I missed out on a hundred,” the middle-order batter said.

“Apart from that, I feel my innings against England in the first ODI helped secure my place in the team. And now, winning the Champions Trophy, it honestly feels like a fairytale,” he said.